Torrential rain across the South Island has caused major problems on the eve of the Alexandra Blossom Festival and school holidays.

The Alexandra Blossom Festival committee has announced the cancellation of the Fulton Hogan Mardi Gras and The News Round the Clock Race tonight (Friday, September 22) due to severe weather.

‘Gutting’: Blossom Festival Friday night events cancelled

Queenstown issued a local state of emergency just after 6:30 this morning, after a regional state of emergency was declared for Southland at 6pm on Thursday night. An evacuation centre was set up in Queenstown and 20 houses were evacuated last night following heavy rain and flooding.

For those planning to travel, Waka Kotahi listed four South Island highways closed in Southland, Otago, and South Canterbury as of this morning – the Milford Sound highway (SH94), Te Tipua south-west of Mataura at the Titipua Stream Bridge (SH96), Makarora to Haast (SH6), and the Aoraki/Mt Cook highway (SH80).

SH6 south of Luggate to Cromwell was closed overnight but is now open with Stop/Go at Mount Pisa Road because of flooding and damage to power poles. Road users should expect delays. Pisa Moorings Road experienced significant undermining of the road surface, with multiple utility assets exposed. Traffic management is in place to allow access for essential services and residents only. If the situation worsens a full closure will be reinstated. 

Caution is urged at the Nevis/ Bannockburn Road intersection because of debris and surface flooding, and the Danseys Pass Road is closed from the gates past the Danseys Pass Hotel due to snow and ice.

Snow had been forecast from midday today from the Lindis Pass north across the alpine passes to Hanmer and the eastern side of the Lewis Pass over the weekend, but was already falling in the Lindis Pass, St Bathans, Naseby, Omakau and the Ida Valley, where many lambs have already been born.

In Alexandra, the Central Otago District Council advised Fulton Hogan had temporarily closed access to the Clutha River - Mata Au from the top of the flood bank due to the high river level, and the Alexandra - Clyde River Track was closed.

Swann Road, Cromwell, also remained closed although water had receded as road crews needed to check damage caused by the flooding.

Snow falls in the Ida Valley this morning. PHOTO: The Central App

Snow falling in Naseby this morning. PHOTO: Craig Sherson/Naseby General Store

MetService forecaster Clare O’Connor said this morning that Alexandra had received 40mm of rain in 24 hours from 2pm on Wednesday.

“Rain will continue today, and is expected to ease to showers as we move through the day, clearing tonight with a chance of showers tomorrow evening,” she said.

The Central App will keep you up-to-date with weather and Road warnings throughout the weekend.